Button and buttonhole marking device.



W. S. FREDLAND. BUTTON AND BUTTONHOLE MARKING DEVICE. APPLICATION man JULY 26, m3.

1 1&9 3 Patented May18, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W. S. FREDLAND. BUTTON AND BUTTONHOLE MARKING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED lULY 26. I913. 1 1% 3% Patented May 18, 1915.

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PHOTDVLITHOH WASHINGTON D.

W. S. FREDLAND- I BUTTON AND BUTTONHOLE MARKING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 2&1913- 1 14,34}, Patented May 18, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W. S. FREDLAND.

BUTTON AND BUTTONHOLE MARKING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUtY 26, ma.

1 JQQEQQQ Patented May 18, 1915.

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5 In l 12 n45 NORRIS PETL-rrs 420., PHOTD-LlTH l. WASHINGTON, D. C.

WILLIAM S. FREDLAND, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

BUTTON AND BUTTONHOLE MARKING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1915.

Application filed July 26, 1913. Serial No. 781,290.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM S. FRED- LAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button and Buttonhole Marking Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to botton and buttonhole marking devices and my object primarily is to produce a machine adapted to indicate in accurate spaced relation upon a garment the points for locating a series of buttonholes as well as simultaneously to locate the points for attaching the corresponding buttons so that the buttons and button holes will be exactly opposite one another with the point for attaching each button marked opposite the middle of the corresponding buttonhole.

To this end my invention comprises a machine in which an arm is provided whereon to clamp the button and buttonhole plaits together in superposed relation, suitable gaging mechanism being also provided to properly aline the plaits in order to mark the plaits along the middle line of the buttonhole plait, whereupon a marking device is brought down over the work supporting arm and marks the plaits atthe proper points by means of awls which pass through both plaits simultaneously. The means for operating the marking device is also arranged to unlock the clamping means as such operating means restores the marking device to inoperative position.

lVith this general object in view, the invention comprises certain novel and peculiar features of construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a front elevation of the apparatus, partly in section and with the sup porting legs of the frame partly broken away to save space on the drawing. Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical sections along the lines HII and III-III respectively of Fig. 1, looking in the directions of the arrows. Fig. 4, is a section along the line IVIV of Fig. 1 showing only certain parts of the locking mechanism. Fig. 5, is a horizontal section along the line V-V of Fig. 1. Fig. 6, is a partial plan View showing the work supporting arm and adjacent parts. Fig. 7, is a section along the line VII-VII of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, the frame of the machine 2, which may be constructed in any suitable manner, carries a work supporting arm 4 over which are designed to be placed in superposed relation the button and but tonhole plaits of the garment to be operated upon. This arm is formed with a longitudi nal slot 6 Fig. 6 to provide passage for the awls of the marking means hereinafter described, and also for a work holding awl 8, which engages said plaits at one end thereof. When the garment is first placed upon the work supporting arm 4, the plaits are clamped at one end by means of corrugated clamping jaws 10 and 12. The jaw 10 is formed upon a block 14 provided with a yoke 16 for adjustably clamping it along the arm 4, this yoke carrying a set screw 18 operating in connection with a clamping plate 20 for engaging the arm to hold the yoke and block in adjusted position. The jaw 12 is carried at the end of an arm 22 Figs. 2 and 6 which is pivoted at its other end to the yoke 16 by means of a rock shaft 24 operated by a crank arm 26 which is connected by a link 28 to a crank 30 mounted slidingly on the square shaft 32 journaled in suitable bearings 34 provided beneath the arm 4. The hub of this crank 30 is provided with a groove, as shown, for receiving a pin 31 carried by the block 14, so that the members of the clamp 10-12 will always be maintained in alinement. It will be noted that the jaw 12 is formed as a yielding clamp by being provided with slotted guides 36 and guide screws 38 carried by the lever, a set of coil springs 40 being interposed between the lever and clamp so that the clamping action will take place in opposition to the force of the springs. (See Fig. 2.) The square shaft 32 also has secured thereto a crank arm 42 Figs. 8 and 5 which is connected by the link 44 to a bell crank lever 46 Figs. 4 and 1 pivoted in a bracket 48 carried by the machine frame, the other arm of said lever having a sliding pivotal connection as shown in Fig. 1, to a slide bar 50. The bar 50 is slidingly supported in a hanger 52, and is operated by the lateral swing of an angular lever 54 which is pivoted to one end of the bar and fulcrumed 1'11 brackets 56 carried by the machine frame. The lever 54 is adapted to be swung by a lateral thrust given by the knee of the operator against a knee 'pressattachment 58ad justably secured to the lower end of said lever by means of a set screw 60. This lever is held normally to the right in Fig. 1 by a coil spring 62 secured at its opposite ends to said lever and a point on the frame. The operation of the lever against the action of this spring results in depressing the jaw 12 through the connections just described, into clamping relation with the jaw 10. Prior to this clamping operation, however, it is desired to aline the plaits centrally upon the arm 4 over the slot 6. This is done by means of a centering arm or gage 64, which is permitted to swing by gravity down upon the top plait and the position of the plait by operation of the lever 54, as explained later is adjusted so that the middle line thereof will lie beneath the point of the gage. The gage 64 is adjustably secured f-by means of a set screw'66 Fig. 6 upon a rock shaft 68 mounted in bearing brackets 70 upon the frame. This shaft has secured thereto a crank arm 72 which is connected by a link 74 Figs. 3 and 6 to a rock lever 7 6 Fig. 1 comprising two arms with a pivoted stud in the hanger 52, one arm depending in position to engage a stud 7 8 on the slide bar 50.

WVhen the lever 54 is drawn into inopera tive position by spring 62, the "stud 7 8 Fig. 1 rocks the lever 7 6 and thereby the shaft 68 to elevate the centering arm or gage 64 into inoperative position. After the workman has placed the plaits upon the arm 4, the first movement of the lever 54 does not afiect the bell crank 46 because of the slotted connection with the slide bar '50, but as the stud 7 8 moves to the left it releases lever 76 and permits the arm or gage 64 to descend by gravity into gaging position. Further movement of the lever 54 and bar then operates the bell crank 46 to throw the jaw 12 and thereby clamp the plaits at one end.

After the plaits have been secured at one end by means of the clamping jaws 10 and 12,"they are next secured at the opposite end of the arm 4 by means of the awl 8 which is projected upwardly through the slot 6 by the following mechanism: The awl is clamped by a screw 80 Fig. 1 in a block 82' which is slidingly mounted upon vertical guideways 84 carried by the arm 4. The block is provided with a pinor stud 86 which isengaged by the slotted end of a bell crank lever 88 pivoted in a bracket 90 secured 'to the arm 4. This bell crank is operatedby a rod 92 extendinglongitudinally of the arm 4 and passing through a post 94 carried by a lever 96 Fig. 6' fulcrumed at 98to the block'14. To accommodatethe adjustment of the block 14' to "different lengths of plaits, the rod 92 is slidingly fitted in the .post 94, the lever being meanwhile held to the right by a coil spring99 and provision block'104 is a spring 110' whereby the rod 92 is forcednormally to the right to depress the a'wl 8. From this construction it will be seen that the swinging of the lever 96 to the left will move the rod 92 to the left against the spring 110 and thereby raise the awl 8 in position to receive the ends of the plaits at the free end of the arm 4.

Provision is made for automatically looking both the clamping jaws 10 and 12 and the awl 8 in engagement with the plaits, as follows: The clamping jaws are locked by means of a pivoted dog 112 Figs. 1, 4 and 5 which is mounted upon stud 114 carried at the lower end of a post 116 which depends from the frame, this dog being in position to engage beneath an extension 118 of the crank arm 42 after the latter has moved downward to throw the clamping arm 22. The dog is actuated by a spring 120 which is attached at one end to a point on said dog 112 and at its opposite'end to thebracket 102, and tends 'to throw the dog into operative position beneath said extension. the rod 92 after it has been drawn to the left, a latch 122 Figs. 4 and5 is pivoted at 124 to the bracket 102 and provided with a nose 126 Fig. 5 adapted to be passed between the bracket 102 and block 104, which-are spaced apart when the rod 92 is in this position. The latch 122 is actuated by a spring 128 Fig. 3 attached at its oppositeends'to the stud 114 and a pin 130 which is secured to the latch.

The locking means for boththe clamps 10 and 12 and the awl 8 it will be understood, swing automatically in position upon the operation of the levers 54 and 96, but it is some times desirable to removethe garment For holding the outer or front end of the lever 132 to raise its other end and thereby rock both the latch and dog to inoperative positions.

I have shown the marking means as comprising a series of awls 142 secured in posts 144 on blocks 146 which are adjustably clamped by means of set screws 148 along a slot 150 in a bar 152 of a rocking frame 154, Fig. 2 which frame is secured to the shaft 156 having its ends journaled in stands 158 carried by the machine frame. Each awl is provided with a spring pressed guard 160 slidingly mounted on guide pins 162 and held normally at the outer end of the awl by means of spring 164. The means for depressing the rocking frame to cause the marking awls to mark the plaits, in which action the guards are pressed back against the springs 164 and the awls project through the plaits into the slot 6, comprises a foot lever or treadle 166 fulcrumed in a floor bracket 168 and connected to the rocking frame 154 by rods 170 and 172, the latter of which has its lower end pivoted to a bracket 174 adjustably clamped to the rod 170. A heavy coil spring 176 is provided for maintaining the rocking frame normally elevated, the lower end of said spring being connected to the bracket 174 and its upper end supported from the frame of the machine. Means is also provided in connection with the treadle rods 17 0 and 172 for releasing the locking mechanism controlled by the lever 132 Fig. 4 upon the release of the foot lever or treadle after each marking opera tion and as the treadle rods rise under the action of the spring 176. This means comprises a link 178 Fig. l pivoted at one end to the lower end of the rod 172 and at itsother end to a lever 180 which is fulcrumed in a hanger 182 supported from the machine frame a, said lever being in turn connected with a plate 184 Figs. 3 and 7 which has a sliding pivotal connection with one end of a lever 186 fulcrumed in a hanger 188 and connected at its other end by a link 190 Fig. 4 to the inner or rear end of the lever 132. To the plate 184 Fig. 7 is pivoted a detent 192 heldby the spring 194 in position normally to engage the pin 196 forming the pivotal connection between said plate and the lever 186 whenever the plate is moved upward by depressing the treadle 166. This arrangement is such that as the treadle is released and the treadle rods are moved upward by spring 176, the detent 192 being engaged with the pin 196, the lever 186 is rocked and the lever 182 operated to unlock the dog and latch in the same manner as above described.

For tripping the detent so as to allow the rocking elements to return to normal position, the detent is provided with a tail piece 198 Fig. 3 adapted to ride in the slot 200 in a bracket 202 carried by the machine frame, said tail piece being caused to swing the detent by contact with the lower end of the slot when the plate 184 is lowered at the end of each marking operation. Briefly stated the operation is substantially as follows Assuming that the plaits of a shirt are to be operated upon, the plaits are placed upon the arm 4 in superposed relation, that is, with the buttonhole plait upon top of the button plait and with the collar ends of the plaits over the clamp aw 10, the latter having been adjusted, with the jaw 12, along the arm 4 for the length of the plaits in question. The lever 54 is then swung to the left sufliciently to allow the arm or gage 64 to be lowered by gravity into position upon the plaits, and as soon as the plaits are properly centered by the aid of this arm or gage, the lever 54 is further swung to bring down the clamp jaw 12, which is at the same time automatically locked because the crank arm 42 of the rock shaft 32 is during this clamping operation locked by the dog 112. Next the lever 96 is operated to lift the awl 8 into engagement with the opposite ends of the plaits, and at the end of this movement the awl is locked due to the rod 92 being locked by means of the latch nose 126 Fig. 5 springing into position between the bracket 102 and the block 104. The work is now properly arranged for the marking operation which is effected by depression of the treadle, the awls 142 having been adjusted the proper distance apart along the bar 152. When the treadle is lowered the detent 192 Figs. 3 and 7 engages the pin 196 so that during the rise of the treadle the lever 186 is swung to release the locking mechanism by means of link 190 and lever 182, whereby the garment is automatically unclamped at the close of each marking operation and the detent 192 is automatically swung out of engagement with the pin 196 by means of parts 198 and 200 to allow the return of the locking mechanism to normal position.

It will be noted that the guards 160 Fig. 2 are roughened or corrugated, and serve to hold the goods securely in position over the slot 6 and prevent any slipping while the marking awls are passing through the material.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised an efficient and conveniently operated means for carrying out the object of my invention and in a much quicker and more accurate manner. than the usual hand mode of doing this work, and while I have illustrated and described one embodiment of the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be restricted to the details of construction and organization shown, but reserve the right to all changes falling within the spirit-andscope of the appended claims.

I claim- 1. The method of marking button and button-hole plaits, consisting in placing'said plaits in superposed relation against asuitable support, and then marking said plaits at the points where the buttons and buttonholes are to be located by piercing said plaits simultaneously at said points.

2. In a button-buttonhole marking machine,-marking mechanism, a work supporting arm, means adjustable on said arm for clamping one portion of the work to be marked, means engaging another portion of the work and cooperating with said clamping means for securing the work in position, and separate means acting automatically to lock the said clamping means and said 00- operating means after the same has been engaged with the work.

3. In a button-buttonhole marking ma- .chine, marking mechanism, a work supportingarm, means adapted to engage a portion of the work to be marked and clamp the same upon said arm, a gage adapted to be lowered upon the work whereby to aline the same, 'means for operating said clamping means, and connections between said operating means and said gage whereby the gage is lowered prior to the operation of the clamping means.

4 In a button-buttonhole marking machine, a work support, marking mechanism, meansadapted to engage a portion of the work to be marked and clamp the same upon said support, means engaging-another portion of the work and cooperating with said first means for securing the work in position, a gage adapted to be lowered upon the work whereby to aline the same, means for operating said clamping means, connections between said operating means and said gage whereby the gage is lowered prior to the operation of the clamping means, and separate means acting automatically to lock the said clamping means and said cooperating means after the work has been positioned.

5. In a button-buttonhole marking machine, marking mechanism, a work supporting arm, means adapted to engage a portion of the work to be marked and clamp the same upon said arm, means for operating said clamping means, an awl, means for projecting said awl through said arm after the operation of the clamping means in position to engage another portion of the work, and separate means acting automatically to lock the said operating means and said projecting means after the same have been operated.

6. In a button-buttonhole marking machine, a work supporting arm, marking mechanism, means adapted to engage a portion of the work to be marked and clamp the same upon said arm, means for operating saidclamping means, an awl, means for pro jecting said awl through said drum'after the ating said securing means, means acting 'automatically to lock said securing means after the same have been'operated, a marking mechanism and means for operating the same to mark said garment, and means acting automatically at the conclusion of each markingoperation to unlock said securing means.

8. In a button-buttonhole markingv machine, a work supporting arm, means for securing the work thereon, means for operating said securing means, means acting after the same have been operated, a marking mechanism adapted to be lowered over said arm to mark the work, and means actuated by the return of the marking mechanism to inoperative position to unlock said securing means.

9. In a button-buttonhole marking machine a work supporting arm, means mounted on said arm for clamping one portion of the work to be marked, means engaging another portion of the work and cooperating with said clamping means in securing the work in position, separate means acting automatically to lock the said clamping means and the said cooperating means after the same have been engaged by the work, and a single means for effecting the unlocking of said clamping means and cooperating means.

10. In a button-buttonhole marking machine, a work supporting arm provided with a longitudinal slot, means for clamping a garment thereon with the button and buttonhole plaits in superposed relation over said slot, a frame adapted to be lowered over said arm, a series of marking awls carried by said frame, said awls being adjustable on said frame to different distances apart, a centering gage, means to lower the centering gage over the slot in said arm whereby the work may be alined with said slot,andmeans for lowering said frame to project the awls through the plaits into the slot and thereby simultaneously mark said plaits.

11'. In a button-'buttonhole marking maautomatically to lock said securing means chine, a Work support, means for clamping actuated means to unlock said locking means a garment thereon with the button and butafter each marking operation. 10 tonhole plaits in superposed relation, au- In testimony whereof, I afiix my signatornatic locking means for securing said ture, in the presence of tWo Witnesses. clamping means in operative position, a WILLIAM S. FREDLAND.

treadle-operated marking mechanism adapt- Witnesses: ed to be lowered upon said support to mark CHAs. W. GERARD, both said plaits simultaneously, and spring G. Y. THORPE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. Q. 

